News is the information in written, broadcast or other media that reports on current events. This includes political, environmental and economic issues. It also covers sports, entertainment and crime stories.
A news story should be based on real facts and have a good journalistic style. It should also be well sourced and include opinions of experts in the field. It is important to keep up with global news, however local events can also be a source of interesting news.
The main purpose of news is to inform the public. This can be achieved through a number of ways including radio, television, newspapers, magazines and the internet. The content of a news story is determined by the audience, which is why it is important to know your target market.
News should be interesting and entertaining. It should contain a variety of topics to appeal to all readers and should provide insight on issues that affect the public. News articles should be short and concise and should avoid using jargon or abbreviations. Creating a good headline is essential, as it will capture the reader’s attention and draw them in to read the article. It is also a good idea to use bullet points or short paragraphs to break up the text.
When writing a news article it is important to consider the 5 Ws; who, what, where, when and why. This will help the reader to understand the context of the news item and will make it easier for them to absorb the information. It is also important to highlight any key facts and figures in the body of the news item as this will increase its impact.
People: Events involving human beings always make the news. This can be a crime, a war, a natural disaster or a major accident. People are also interested in famous people; their achievements, failures or scandals. Money: Any kind of money is newsworthy, from the fortunes made by businessmen to school fees, taxes and compensation claims. Food and drink: Everyone is interested in what they are eating, drinking or avoiding, so news of shortages or gluts, prices and new products are always of interest. Sex: Although sex may not be the most exciting topic for news, it is always of interest to many readers. It is especially interesting when sex involves behaviour that goes against society’s norms.
The content of news is decided by a number of factors, including the impact it will have on the audience, how interesting or significant the event is and whether it is unusual. There are also various models that can be used to help determine what is and isn’t newsworthy, such as the Mirror Model, the Organizational Model and the Political Model. However, it is also important to remember that news is a subjective phenomenon and that what may be newsworthy in one country or culture may not be in another. This is why it is important for journalists to be aware of the wider political, social and cultural implications of their work.